Candidate statements after the primary
Several Pima County candidates put out statements after their wins, and losses, from Tuesday's primary election.
Statement from Jennifer Allen, winner of the Democratic primary for the Pima County supervisor seat in District 3
“As polls close and votes get tallied, Jennifer Allen holds a strong lead in the 4-way race for District 3 seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. Her campaign has been described as a powerhouse because of its strong and broad base of support.”
“The campaign started out gathering over 1200 signatures to qualify Allen to be on the ballot. As the campaign progressed, they recruited over 75 volunteers and over 550 people who donated to the campaign. With this time, energy, and resources, they knocked on nearly 12,000 doors, hand-wrote over 3500 postcards to hard-to-reach voters, and made nearly 6000 phone calls to voters. The campaign also relied on a powerful slate of broad organizational and individual endorsements, ranging from Congressman Raul Grijalva, Tucson Mayor Romero and former Mayor Rothschild. Organizations ranging from Planned Parenthood, 9 labor unions, Latino Victory, Sierra Club, to the Jane Fonda Climate PAC all got behind the campaign because of Allen’s more than 25 years of experience working on climate change, reproductive rights, civil rights and other complex issues facing Pima County. District 3 includes the Tohono O’odham Nation as well as many members of the Pascua Yaqui Nation, so Allen also met with the Pascua Yaqui Council as well as 8 of the 11 District Councils in the Tohono O’odham Nation.”
“For the last nine months, we have zig-zagged across our district listening to communities. From Ajo, Arivaca, Marana, and Tucson to the Altar Valley, Amado, 3 Points, Sahuarita, Dove Mountain, and more, people shared the challenges, expectations, and strengths of their communities. They helped us understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the complexity of District 3. It’s clear that the voters want someone with experience and collaborative leadership style. They want to see progress on issues like affordable housing, climate change, and rural services. The voters have chosen an organizer who brings a problem-solving approach and who cares about the well-being and dignity of everyone in our community. Tonight is about gratitude and a well-deserved celebration after all our hard work. Now we just have 3 months until November 5th – and like Vice President Harris, we are also up against an extreme MAGA Republican.”
“To win in November, we need to be stronger than ever – we need to build a base of young voters, rural and indigenous communities, Black and Brown folks, and everyone committed to a vision of Pima County that provides opportunity, equity, stability, and prosperity to all.”
Statement from Rex Scott, the incumbent county supervisor in District 1 who won the Democratic primary.
“I am grateful and honored to once again be chosen as the nominee of our party. Four years ago, I became the first Democrat since 1972 to win in our district. We will defend this seat by running on our record of common sense, service and results.”
“My sincere thanks to Jake Martin, who ran a campaign that was a testament to his commitment to our community and his personal integrity. Jake and I promised to run positive, issues-oriented campaigns when we both got into this race. Democrats in our district should be proud that we both never strayed from that pledge.”
“During my first term, I have emphasized that the county’s essential duty is to make sure that all the services and supports our constituents depend on are delivered with equity, responsiveness to their needs and respect for the public revenues entrusted to us. Public health and safety, roads and infrastructure, increasing our housing stock and reducing barriers to access to quality early childhood education have been key areas of focus. I see policy making as synonymous with problem solving, always with the goal of improving the quality of life for the people we serve.”
“Going into the general election, I will continue to keepp my focus on the issues our constituents care about. As I’ve done as their supervisor, I will devote most of my time to reaching out to them, listening to their concerns and describing how I will serve our community if granted another term. My hope is that they will give me another four years to be their voice and their advocate within county government.”
Statement from Jake Martin, the challenger for county supervisor in District 1 who lost to Scott.
“It has been an extraordinary journey running this campaign, and I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement we've received along the way. Winning more than a third of the vote is a remarkable feat and a testament to the dedication and passion of my amazing supporters, who believed in our message and vision for Pima County. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.”
“I also extend my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and campaign team, whose support and hard work made this journey possible. Behind every campaign are countless individuals who work tirelessly for a shared vision, and I am incredibly fortunate to have had such a remarkable team by my side.”
“While we did not win this election, my commitment to serving this community is stronger than ever. This campaign was never just about winning; it was about raising important issues, advocating for transparency and integrity in government, and engaging with the people of Pima County. I am so proud of what we accomplished together, and I am confident that these efforts have laid the groundwork for meaningful change in the future.”
“As we move forward, I am proud to endorse Supervisor Rex Scott, who ran an exemplary campaign. It is a rare privilege to run against someone you consider both a friend and a role model, and I am honored to count myself among the fortunate few who can say so. Supervisor Scott's dedication to our community and his thoughtful leadership are qualities I deeply admire, and I am confident he will continue to serve Pima County with distinction.”
“Thank you once again to everyone who supported our campaign. I want to be clear that while this was my first primary, it was not my last. Together, we will keep striving for a brighter future."
Laura Conover issues a special message after winning the Democratic primary, and ensuring another four years as Pima County Attorney.
